Monitoring the Session

SB 434

Harris County Hospital District gets its own peace officers

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Borris MilesDSenate 13

Initial review · graded Oct 22, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the authority of the Harris County Hospital District to employ and commission peace officers.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

Joins Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar and El Paso on the short list.

The bill adds the Harris County Hospital District to the short list of hospital districts whose boards may hire and commission their own peace officers. It touches the Harris County Hospital District board and the officers it would commission, who become peace officers under state law like those in the Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar and El Paso districts. On the ground, the Harris district can run its own commissioned police force at its facilities, starting immediately with a two-thirds vote or September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: NO AUTOGRAPH. Became law without the governor's signature on May 29, 2025.DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 1449 (Did not pass). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB434 · 2024-11-21

SOLD BY

ITEM

relating to the authority of the Harris County Hospital District to employ and commission peace officers.

WHAT IT DOES

Joins Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar and El Paso on the short list.

The bill adds the Harris County Hospital District to the short list of hospital districts whose boards may hire and commission their own peace officers. It touches the Harris County Hospital District board and the officers it would commission, who become peace officers under state law like those in the Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar and El Paso districts. On the ground, the Harris district can run its own commissioned police force at its facilities, starting immediately with a two-thirds vote or September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 4, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Local Government
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Vote taken in committee
  11. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  12. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  13. Committee report printed and distributed
  14. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  15. Laid before the Senate
  16. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  17. Vote recorded in Journal
  18. Three day rule suspended
  19. Record vote
  20. Read 3rd time
  21. Passed
  22. Record vote
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the Senate
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs
  27. Considered in formal meeting
  28. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  29. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  30. Committee report distributed
  31. Committee report sent to Calendars
  32. Laid out in lieu of companion HB 605
  33. Read 2nd time
  34. Passed to 3rd reading
  35. Record vote RV#2710
  36. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  37. Read 3rd time
  38. Passed
  39. Record vote RV#2911
  40. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  41. House passage reported
  42. Reported enrolled
  43. Signed in the Senate
  44. Signed in the House
  45. Sent to the Governor
  46. Filed without the Governor's signature
  47. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 99 yea · 23 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 1 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 16, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 24, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Donors

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Sep 4, 2024 to Nov 30, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$15,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$15,000.00

Cash
$15,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$15,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 25, 2024 to Nov 3, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100990780, 101043817.

HillCo PAC$10,000.00

HillCo PAC

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 131 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 8, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 24, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101043817.

ActBlue Texas$8,833.00

ActBlue Texas

$8,833.00

Cash
$8,833.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$8,833.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 1, 2024 to Sep 4, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Nov 1, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100990780.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$15,000.00

Cash
$15,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$15,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 25, 2024 to Nov 3, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100990780, 101043817.

×

HillCo PAC

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 131 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 8, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 24, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101043817.

×

ActBlue Texas

$8,833.00

Cash
$8,833.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$8,833.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 1, 2024 to Sep 4, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Nov 1, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100990780.

Votes5

House May 16, 2025

Yea
99
Nay
23
Present, not voting
1
Absent
9
Excused
18
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2911

SB 434 was passed by (Record 2911): 99 Yeas, 23 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 99 (published)
  • Nay: 23 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 9 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 18 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 15, 2025

Yea
105
Nay
24
Present, not voting
3
Absent
5
Excused
13
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2710

SB 434 was passed to third reading by (Record 2710): 105 Yeas, 24 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 105 (published)
  • Nay: 24 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 3 (published)
  • Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 13 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 24, 2025

Final passage

Yea
30
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

SB 434 (Miles) Relating to the authority of the Harris County Hospital District to employ and commission peace officers. (viva voce vote) (30-1) "Nay" Sparks (30-1) "Nay" Sparks

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 24, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
30
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

SB 434 (Miles) Relating to the authority of the Harris County Hospital District to employ and commission peace officers. (viva voce vote) (30-1) "Nay" Sparks (30-1) "Nay" Sparks

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 24, 2025

Passage to engrossment

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

SB 434 (Miles) Relating to the authority of the Harris County Hospital District to employ and commission peace officers. (viva voce vote) (30-1) "Nay" Sparks (30-1) "Nay" Sparks

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses5
For
4
Against
0
On
1
Names

For

  • Harris County Commissioners Court1 registration
  • Teaching Hospitals of Texas1 registration
  • Texas Hospital Association1 registration
  • Texas Medical Association1 registration

On

  • Harris Health1 registration
Sources

5 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 4, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version H by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R SB 1449

by Sen. Miles, same lead author · Did not pass · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, May 23, 2023: Placed on General State Calendar

Relating to the authority of the Harris County Hospital District to employ and commission peace officers.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Nov 21, 2024

05/29/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors
Cosponsors

House committee · Intergovernmental Affairs · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · Local Government · Committee vote 5 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Companion

HB 605 by Jones, Jolanda (identical)

Subjects

HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT

Law Enforcement

Special Districts & Authorities--Hospital

PEACE OFFICERS

Text

The text as introduced · 827 words

89R383 MPF-D

By: Miles
S.B. No. 434

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of the Harris County Hospital District to

employ and commission peace officers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 281.057(a), Health and Safety Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) The board of the Dallas County Hospital District, the

Tarrant County Hospital District, the Bexar County Hospital

District, [ or ] the El Paso County Hospital District , or the Harris

County Hospital District may employ and commission peace officers

for the district.

SECTION 2. Article 2A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure, is

amended to read as follows:

Art. 2A.001. PEACE OFFICERS GENERALLY. The following are

peace officers:

(1) a sheriff, a sheriff's deputy, or a reserve deputy

sheriff who holds a permanent peace officer license issued under

Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;

(2) a constable, a deputy constable, or a reserve

deputy constable who holds a permanent peace officer license issued

under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;

(3) a marshal or police officer of a municipality or a

reserve municipal police officer who holds a permanent peace

officer license issued under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;

(4) a ranger, officer, or member of the reserve

officer corps commissioned by the Public Safety Commission and the

director of the Department of Public Safety;

(5) an investigator of a district attorney's, criminal

district attorney's, or county attorney's office;

(6) a law enforcement agent of the Texas Alcoholic

Beverage Commission;

(7) a member of an arson investigating unit

commissioned by a municipality, a county, or the state;

(8) an officer commissioned under Section 37.081,

Education Code, or Subchapter E, Chapter 51, Education Code;

(9) an officer commissioned by the Texas Facilities

Commission;

(10) a law enforcement officer commissioned by the

Parks and Wildlife Commission;

(11) an officer commissioned under Chapter 23,

Transportation Code;

(12) a municipal park and recreational patrol officer

or security officer;

(13) a security officer or investigator commissioned

as a peace officer by the comptroller;

(14) an officer commissioned by a water control and

improvement district under Section 49.216, Water Code;

(15) an officer commissioned by a board of trustees

under Chapter 54, Transportation Code;

(16) an investigator commissioned by the Texas Medical

Board;

(17) an officer commissioned by:

(A) the board of managers of the Dallas County

Hospital District, the Tarrant County Hospital District, the Bexar

County Hospital District, [ or ] the El Paso County Hospital

District , or the Harris County Hospital District under Section

281.057, Health and Safety Code;

(B) the board of directors of the Ector County

Hospital District under Section 1024.117, Special District Local

Laws Code;

(C) the board of directors of the Midland County

Hospital District of Midland County, Texas, under Section 1061.121,

Special District Local Laws Code; or

(D) the board of hospital managers of the Lubbock

County Hospital District of Lubbock County, Texas, under Section

1053.113, Special District Local Laws Code;

(18) a county park ranger commissioned under

Subchapter E, Chapter 351, Local Government Code;

(19) an investigator employed by the Texas Racing

Commission;

(20) an officer commissioned under Chapter 554,

Occupations Code;

(21) an officer commissioned by the governing body of

a metropolitan rapid transit authority under Section 451.108,

Transportation Code, or a regional transportation authority under

Section 452.110, Transportation Code;

(22) an investigator commissioned by the attorney

general under Section 402.009, Government Code;

(23) a security officer or investigator commissioned

as a peace officer under Chapter 466, Government Code;

(24) an officer appointed by an appellate court under

Subchapter F, Chapter 53, Government Code;

(25) an officer commissioned by the state fire marshal

under Chapter 417, Government Code;

(26) an investigator commissioned by the commissioner

of insurance under Section 701.104, Insurance Code;

(27) an apprehension specialist or inspector general

commissioned by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department as an officer

under Section 242.102 or 243.052, Human Resources Code;

(28) an officer appointed by the inspector general of

the Texas Department of Criminal Justice under Section 493.019,

Government Code;

(29) an investigator commissioned by the Texas

Commission on Law Enforcement under Section 1701.160, Occupations

Code;

(30) a fire marshal or any related officer, inspector,

or investigator commissioned by a county under Subchapter B,

Chapter 352, Local Government Code;

(31) a fire marshal or any officer, inspector, or

investigator commissioned by an emergency services district under

Chapter 775, Health and Safety Code;

(32) an officer commissioned by the State Board of

Dental Examiners under Section 254.013, Occupations Code, subject

to the limitations imposed by that section; and

(33) an investigator commissioned by the Texas

Juvenile Justice Department as an officer under Section 221.011,

Human Resources Code.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.